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Joey Barton, centre, with Nedum Onouha, left, and Charlie Austin at the launch of the new QPR Nike kit (Picture: Nike)

Not so long ago, ‘thuggish’, ‘disgraceful’ and even ‘evil’ were the adjectives of choice for the headline-writers where Joey Barton was concerned.

Now, after an arduous afternoon of media duties and posing with fans for selfies, the words ‘mellow’, ‘affable’ and ‘articulate’ come to mind.

‘I’m older and a little bit… well, it’s not for me to say… I’m older,’ says the one-time jailbird and oft-red-carded 31-year-old, hoarsely – QPR’s play-off final celebrations having clearly taken their toll.

‘I’m just a man who’s made mistakes, will make mistakes again but is trying to make less and less and less.’

Mistakes are also something Barton – temper now seemingly in check – makes less of on the pitch, his commanding performances for the Rs begging the question: Does he reckon he could do a better job than the midfielders in England’s World Cup squad?

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‘No, I really, really don’t. I’ve one cap, obviously I would’ve loved to have got more caps. I’m a proud Englishman I would’ve loved to represent my country but that’s not the way it transpired and I think the reality of my journey was that. I’m not bitter, I’ve had a great career. I’m an England fan again now.’

And despite having branded Roy Hodgson’s men ‘s***’ last year, Barton is positive about their chances in Brazil.

‘The expectations have tapered, which is good. To think we can win it is too far but if we say, “let’s get out of the group and then see what happens”, who knows where it’s going to take us? I just hope it’s a positive experience.

‘We’re ranked 11th in the world – I think we’re better than that. I don’t think we’re top four but when you get in a tournament strange things can happen, players can grow. We’ve got some players like Ross Barkley, like [Raheem] Sterling, and then you’ve got players who’ve been there and done it. The thing for me was to taper the expectation. Because over-expectation can be dangerous.’

Morrissey and Barton are apparently good buddies now (Picture: AP)

If all this agreeableness is disconcerting, fret not. Barton is likely to be back in confrontational mode for his Question Time debut tomorrow but he will not be wearing a Morrissey T-shirt. ‘We still speak,’ Barton says of his musical hero, who he first met at Glastonbury in 2011.

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‘He texted me and congratulated me on promotion. I’m trying to convert him to being a QPR fan. I think he’s a Joey Barton fan at the minute but I’ll try and convert him in time.

‘He wanted me to wear a T-shirt of his new album – World Peace Is None Of Your Business – on Question Time.

‘I was like, “Mozza, I really can’t do that”. He’s a bit mischievous. I think that’s sometimes missed with me too. People take everything I say on Twitter too literally.’

Barton is set to renew rivalries with long-time Twitter sparring partner Piers Morgan on the aforementioned BBC topical-debate programme. So should the TV host be quaking in his shoes?

‘I don’t think he will,’ opines Barton. ‘He’s been on there about ten times. It’s my first time on there so obviously it’s a new experience for me. It’ll be interesting to see because I do admire how outspoken he is. I’m looking forward to meeting him.

‘No doubt I’ll like him because he’s outspoken – just recently what he said about the NRA [Morgan criticised America’s National Rifle Association in his final CNN show] that won’t have helped him keep his job at CNN. It was the right thing to say. I’m not saying I necessarily agree or disagree with him but I think he’s a man who his opinions and his mindful to talk about them and that should be embraced.’

Joey Barton spoke at the QPR kit launch at Nike Phenomenal House, New Oxford Street, London. Nike Phenomenal House is a celebration of the lifestyle of football, open until May 31.